While my best friends took biology or chemistry electives during high school, I proceeded with database or visual basic electives instead. During elementary years, i consistently topped our typing tutor tests in our Computer class with an average words per minute of at least 50wpa and 98-100% accuracy. I was definitely hooked to technology, to code, to computers. When i reached college, I was faced with two choices – an Electronics or Computer Science course. I never really got to decide. When I arrived in the university for enrolment period, I was led to the Computer Science / School of Computer Studies Building instead of the Engineering Building. Fate (whatever you call it) probably led my hand and pushed my feet.
The irony is that although I never really learned a lot in college, I actually learned a lot in college. I freelanced and took a lot of jobs for the past 4 years – sometimes giving me at least only 2-3 hours of sleep. But i was able to explore a lot of things. I started out randomly accepting any job related to graphics, or development – i once found one where they asked me to design a packaging for their honey bee wax product. It was very frustrating because, although i knew well how to use photoshop, i’m not very fond of graphics designing. I never got paid for the work i rendered, so i kind of stayed away from graphics job.
I found my first official web developer job during my first year in college – and i guess it was the start. It was a NodeJS project, and the learning curve was very steep. I actually had to go through a lot of courses in Codeschool. But nevertheless, the project finished and i had to move on. Then my path as a Python dev was found when i was hired as a Python developer.
Anyway, i was burnt out. Together with the all freelancing gigs, i was also part of our university’s student councils even though I never really wanted the positions. I have a theory, and no matter where i go, it always hold true (believe me or not) – that i tend to receive leadership roles even if i don’t really want them in the first place. As a proof, my classmates in elementary years elect me as a group leader in activities for reasons i don’t know (i was kind of an achiever). During high school, in the classroom, i tend to take responsibility for whatever is needed and sometimes, it makes me overworked because sometimes, i don’t get any help. Now, onwards to college. You can already guess.
It’s very flattering that’s why i do my best whenever i receive such responsibilities.
Anyway, i was burnt out. Let me get to my point. So i stopped for the semester. And might probably resume school somewhere in the future. The dream of most parents is to see their child graduate. And it’s kind of hard to see my parents being deprived of such dream (But i still got a brother). But i need to follow what i want. I don’t intend to work as an employee throughout my life. I will and always will be a businessman. I don’t need the government’s benefits as i’m currently taking care of my finances. And sometimes, i think of not raising a family at all, if it will hinder to the achievement of the dream. I will be wealthy, so that i could build the dream. I dropped out to defy the norms – because usually, when someone graduates, your path is already written down by the very people who wants you to graduate. You find a job, get a promotion, raise a family, die (in debt or no debt). It’s nowhere near exciting.
